Typographical numbering-machine.



J. H. PRICE.

TYPOGRAPHICAL NUMBEHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE7I 1915.

1,155,369, Patented 001;. 5, 1915.

waais'ei ZZZ 622277? UNIT STATES ATE FFICE.

JOSEPH H. PRICE, OF LOMBARID, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE1-IALF TO CHICAGOPAPER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TYPOGRAPHICAL NUMBERING-MACHINE.

Application filed June 7, 1915.

To all w ltom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn H. Pnioma citizen of the United States, andresident of Lombard, in the county of Dupage and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in TypographicalNumbering-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in typographical numberingmachines, the number wheels of which are sleeved on a shaft, andautomatically advanced upon the successive movement of a plunger heldagainst accidental movement by ratchets and swinging pawls moved tocontact by a spring plate having fingers individual to each pawl andusually provided with what is called drop-ciphers to avoid printingnon-significant ciphers in front of numbers.

Typographic-a1 numbering machines when assembled, as sold to a customercommonly contain five or six wheels, on the periphery of each of which,with the exception of the unit wheels, are numbers from one to andincluding a drop-cipher, and by their successive operation individuallyproduce units, tens, hundreds, thousands and tens of thousands, and todo which the ciphers of every wheel are moved to a position droppingthem below the surface of the numbers, so that in the commencement ofthe operation of the machine, the first imprintednumber shall be one,and so on,,as a strip of paper is exposed to the successive operationsof their plunger. lVhen, however, it is desir able or necessary tosimultaneously imprint two or more numbers in their successive order,when there are two or more forms on the same page, as for example, bankchecks, a separate numbering machine must be used for each form orcheck, and a skip-wheel substituted for the consecutive numbered unitwheel in every machine necessary there'- for. That is to say, when thereare two checks to the page, there must be substituted for the unit wheelof the first machine to operate a skip-wheel, with the numbers 1, 3, 5,7 and 9, and on the second machine a skipwheel having the numbers 0, 2,4, 6 and 8, orin other words, on the wheel printing the unit 1, thenumerals must be odd, whereas on the wheel printing the first unit 2,the numerals must be even. Again for printing numbers in theirconsecutive order on a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, 1915. Serial No. 32,479.

sheet for three bank checks, three numbering machines must be employed,and each provided with a skip wheel, with the numbers on the unit wheelof the first machine, beginning with 1, consecutively followed by thenumbers l, 7, 0, 3, 6, 9, 2, 5 and 8, and on the unit wheel of thesecond machine, beginning with 2, followed in order with 5, 8, 1, l, 7,O, 3, 6 and 9, and on the unit wheel of the third machine beginning with3, and followed in order with 6, 9, 2, 5, 8, l, 4, 7 and 0.

ll ith the numbers arranged on the skipwheels and in the order abovedescribed, there will be simultaneously printed 1 on the first check ofa sheet by the unit wheel of the first machine, 2 on the next check bythe unit wheel of the second machine, and 3 on the next and third checkby the unit wheel of the third machine, and on 'the second sheet in likemanner,4 by the unit wheel of the first machine, 5 by the unit wheelofthe second machine, and 6 by the unit wheel of thethird machine, andso on, until all of the sheets for a three check bank book aresuccessively numbered, or until the capacity of the three machines isexhausted, and whereupon they are reset to commence in like manner withthe numertl l, as before.

F or consecutively numbering five forms or checks to a sheet, fivemachines must be simultaneously used and operated with a skip-wheel foreach, with their numbers varying accordingly as above indicated, and inwhich event with the cipher omitted from the last wheel of the series,the highest number printed will be 999,999.

In the construction of variously numbered strips, as for example bankchecks, it is the practice to first print the blank form of the checksand subsequently apply the numbers thereto in their consecutive order,and which is and may be done with a single machine, When the checks areto be subsequently bound with one check to the page, without the use ofa skip-wheel, that is to say when the unit wheel contains in their orderthe numerals 1 to a cipher inclusive, andas such numbering machines arecommonly assembled, and sold. Then a sheet contains two or more checks,or other printed forms to be numbered consecutively throughout a numberof such sheets, the

use of a skip-wheel whereby the two or more checks on a sheet may besimultaneously numbered consecutively and likewise of the followingsheets in their passage through -more checks or other blanks to thesheet,

and vice versa for numbering consecutively but one blank to a sheet. Inother words, before my invention, so far as I am aware, there has beenno typographical numbering machine, wherein it is possible or practicalto substitute a skip-wheel for an ordinary unit wheel without removingall of the other numbering wheels from a fixed shaft upon which they arefree to revolve, and disconnecting them from their spring actuatedpawls, and this after first removing the plunger and the rocking armthrough which the several numbering wheels must be and are operated, andfor the reason that their shaft is only removable through the ends ofthe machine opposite that occupied by the plunger. Indeed so far as I amaware there was prior to my invention, no successful typographicalnumbering machine on the market wherein it is possible to substitute askip-wheel for the ordinary unit wheel, or vice versa, withoutdismembering the machine as above described, or which after beingdismembered can be reassembled by th ordinary purchaser, or even by askilled mechanic outside of the factory where they are made, in lessthan about an hour, and a half an hour at best, and even then only bygreat care, skill. and patience. From the foregoing it will now beapparent that any means by which it is possible and practical for anyoneof ordinary intelligence and without the skill of a mechanic tosubstitute in a typographical numbering machine, a skipwheel for theunit wheel and vice versa without disassembling any of the parts of sucha machine, and without any liability to do so will be a markedimprovement in the art.

The prime object of my invention, broadly stated, is to provide atypographical numbering machine with a shaft for and about which thenumbering wheels are free to re volve, the construction of which shaftis such that a skip-wheel may be substituted for the ordinary unitwheel, and vice versa without disassembling the machine, or moving orremoving th shaft in its entirety, or disturbing any of the numberingwheels other than that of the substitution.

More specifically stated, the object of my invention is to provide atypographical numbering machine with a shaft fixed and supporting theseveral numbering wheels as usual formed in two lengths, or transversesections, one of which is socketed and adapted to be interlocked withthe other, and form the sole support for either a unit or skipwheel asmay be, one of which sections is fixed in its operative position by theuse of a single set screw, and is adapted to be detachable from theother section, and removed away from the unit wheel or skipwheel as maybe, and outwardly through the end of the machine adjacent said unit orskip-wheel on retracting the impinging set screw therefrom, and wherebya skip-wheel or a unit wheel may be substituted the one for the otherwithout disassembling or removing any of the remaining wheels'from theshaft. 7

Another object of my invention is to provide a typographical numberingmachine having a sectional shaft adapted to support the severalnumbering wheels thereof provided with a simple and effective means forvisually indicating externally of the working parts thereof the positionto which the shaft must be turned before being tightened, that it musthave for the ciphers of the several wheels to drop below their operativeposition into the groove provided therefor.

With these ends in view, my invention finds embodiment in certainfeatures of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement ofparts by which the said objects and certain other objects are attained,

all as hereinafter fully described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In said drawing, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a typographicalnumbering machine in which my invention finds embodiment, but containingthe usual unit wheel instead of a skip-wheel, to be referred to. Fig. 2is an elevation of one end thereof adjacent the plunger. Fig. 3 is anend elevation of the opposite end of the machine showing the removablesection of the shaft. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken on the line-it4t of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an end elevation with l the plunger removedto expose the rocker arm and the adjacent end of the shaft upon whichthe numbering wheels are mounted. Fig. 6 1s an end elevation of thefemale mem ber' of the sectional shaft. Fig. 7 is a similar view of themale member of the sectional shaft, and Fig. 8 is a detail longitudinalsection through the shaft for more clearly showing the arrangement ofthe shaft locking lugs relative to the groove for receiving thedrop-ciphers of the numbering wheels.

Similar characters of reference indicate the same parts in the severalfigures of the drawing.

The frame of the machine as usual consists of end. walls 9 and 10connected by means of bars 11, at each side thereof spaced apart, thewall 9 being provided with outwardly projecting parallel flanges 12 12projecting between which and suitably locked thereto is a plunger 13 bymeans of a U-shaped plate 1 1 fro-1n which is bent a bottom piece 15supporting a coiled spring 16 yieldingly supporting the plunger aboveits operative positionfor actuating a rocking arm 17. r i

Rocking arm 17 as shownin the drawings, is supported free to turn on thereduced end 18 of a shaft 19, and is actuated by the plunger andconnected'with a series of numbering wheels in any ordinary and usualmanner.

Mounted and free to turn upon the shaft 19 is a series ofnumberingwheels which in the order of their arrangement consist of a tenthousands wheel 20, thousands wheel 21, hundreds wheel 22, a tens wheel23 and a unit wheel24, each of which wheels as shown in the drawings,are peripherally provided with raised or typographical num bersconsecutively thereon from 1 to and including a cipher, each of whichwheels is provided with a circular rack25 depressed below the face ofthe numerals engaged by as many pawls 26, moved to contact with theirrespective circular racks by means of as many spring tongues27, securedto the side bar 11 of the frame, by means of setscrews 2-8.

At the opposite side of, well toward the bottom of the wheels (see Fig.&) are a series of stops 29, one for each wheel, adapted to project intoopposing recesses 30, for yieldingly holding the numbering wheels fromaccidental movement, and to which end the stops are pivoted on a shaftor rod projecting at each end into a yoke Sl'provided with opposingupright arms 32-32, sleeved upon the shaft 19 adjacent the end walls 9and 10 of the frame. I

As beforestated every numbering wheel save the ten thousands wheel isprovided with a cipher, which isuseless on the last to be operated ofthe several wheels, and as indicated by the groove 33 in the shaft 19,all of these ciphers are drop-ciphers, that is to say are formedseparate from the wheels, and confined in slots therein so that thestructure upon which they are formed may drop into the groove and to aplane below their printing position.

With the exception of the construction and arrangei'nent of the shaft ashereinafter described, it will now be observed that otherwise thetypographical numbering machine shown in the drawing, is identical incon struction and operation with one of several types ofnumberingmachines heretofore upon the market and now extensively in usethe shafts of which, however, for ship porting the numbering wheels arewithout exception made of one piece, supported at their opposite ends inthe frame and maintained against movement by means of a setscrew 23%passing through the top of one end of the piece and impinging againsttheir shaft as shown in Fig. at of the drawings.

The useof a one piece shaft in the several types (if-numbering machinesnow upon the market wherein it is possible to make the substitution of askip-wheel for a unit wheel, and vice versa, of necessityrequires forthe substitution of a skip-wheel for a unit wheel and vice versa, thedisassembling of the machine in its'entirety, and for which purpose theplunger must first be removed from the machin.e,followed by removing therocking arm from the shaft, then withdrawing the shaft outwardly throughthe frame in the opposite direction until allof the numbering wheels areremoved therefrom, before the substitution can be made of a skip-wheelfor the unit wheel, or vice versa. Vith the removal of the numberingwheels,

the pawls 26 being loose upon their shaft,

swing inwardly by gravity and must be held in their operative positionwhile pushing the shaft through the several numbering wheels forrestoring them to their operative position, and for which purpose theiropposing. springs must be detached from the frame.

The difficulty and skill required to reassemble typhographical numberingmachines will, however, be better appreciated on bearing in mind thatthe depth and width of their frame as they are sold upon the market isless than three-quarters of an inch, with a total length of but one andseven-eighths inches, with the diameter of their wheels barelythree-(piartcrs of an inch, with their springs and pawls correspondinglysmall, and sosmall that they can only be successfully reassembled withthe use of the fingers and a pair of pincers, and as a result of which,and only fromfrequent practice can even a skilled mechanic reassemblethem with an expenditure of at least thirty minutes if not more of time.Indeed the di'tliculty and expense for reassembling typographicalnumbering machines, has heretofore been so great that,

ing machines on the market, and repeated eHorts to devise some means bywhich skipwheels might be successfully used without the necessity ofdisassembling the entire machine, I have finally discovered that thismay be done .without changes in theirmechanism other than dividing theirsingle shaft in twointer-locking sections, one section of which supportsno numbering wheel other than the unit or the skip-wheel as may be, andis removable partly or wholly away from the other section, and from thema chine through the end wall thereof adjacent such skip or unit wheel.For example, as shown in Fig. 4:, the single piece shaft heretoforeprovided as a support for the numbering wheels is transversely dividedon a line in a plane with the inner surface of the unit wheel 24, andthe adjacent surface of the tens wheel 23, one section of which 35,forms the support for the several numbering wheels 21, 22 and 23,and'the other section-36 a support only for the unit wheel 24, theadjacent ends of which sections are provided with interlocking meanswhereby they may both be held against turning by means of the screw 34heretofore employed for the same purpose.

As shown in the drawings the locking means consists in providing the endof the section 35 with a socket 3 7, and opposing radial grooves 38respectively adapted to receive a pin 39 and lugs 40 and 41 pro-'jecting from the opposing end of the section 36, whereby when the twosections are in their operative interlocked position, both sections maybe held against turning by the single screw 34: to impinge therewith.

With this construction of the shaft, it will be, seen that forsubstituting for the unit wheel 24: a skip-wheel this may be quicklydone by loosening the screw fol-, lowed by drawing the shaft section 36away from the shaft section 35, until the section 36 is free and clearof the unit wheel 24, which may then be easily removed by thefingers,'and a skip-wheel therefor be substituted by firstholding it inregister with the section 36, followed by moving the shaft section 36therethrough to locked engagement with the section 35, and thentightening the set-screw 34. i

As a means for visually determining when the groove 33 of the'shaftregisters with the drop ciphers, and how much the shaft must be turnedto move the groove into register before tightening the shaft with v theset screw, it will now be observed that the lug 40 and the sockettherefor is wider than that of and for the lug 41, and that these lugsare arranged on a line at aright angle to the groove, and thatfurthermore the outer end of the shaft is provided with a notch 42 inline with the lug 40, so that on turning the shaft until this notch 42meets the right hand end of a horizontal line at a right angle to thelength of the groove, the operator will then know that the groove isuppermost and in register with the drop ciphers. The form of the notch42' is such that it provides a means for the engagement of a hook forpulling the shaft section 36 outwardly or for a screw-driver projectedinto the end groove 43 of the section 36 for turning the shaft as andfor the purposes before described.

My invention as providing a means for the substitution of a skip wheelfor a unit wheel without disturbing the other wheels of a typographicalnumbering machine, is not to be limited to the special form of devicesfor connecting, locking and indicating the point to which the shaftshall be turned for registering, the drop ciphers with the groovetherein, but includes any other form adapted for the purposes thereof.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A typographical numbering machine comprising in combination aplurality of numbering wheels, a sectional shaft for supporting saidwheels, one section of which supports the unit wheel to the exclusion ofthe other wheel and wheels.

2. A typographical numbering machine comprising in combination a seriesof numbering wheels, a transversely divided shaft therefor, means forremovably locking the sections thereof together, and a unit wheel"supported upon one of said sections to the exclusion of the othernumbering wheels.

3. A typographical numbering machine comprising in combination a seriesof numbering wheels, a sectional shaft transversely dlvided into twosections, a pm on one section, a socket in the other sectlon forreceiving said pin, means for preventing the roi tary movement of eithersection, and means for maintaining said shaft againstlongitudinalmovement.

4:. A typographical numbering machine comprising in combination a seriesof numto be moved to register With said ciphers on turning the shaft,means whereby both sections of said shaft may be simultaneouslyrevolved, means for indicating the register of the drop groove With theciphers therefor, and means for locking said shaft in a 10 fixedposition.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and afi'ixed my seal,this 1st day of June, A. D. 1915.

JOSEPH H. PRICE. L. s]

Witnesses M. B. ELsNER, J NO. G. ELLIOTT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

